Locking means for clutch-levers.



P. L. STARR.

LOCKING MEANS FOR CLUTCH LEVERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16. I916.

L flmo Patented Apr. 24,1917.

awn box FE/PA A 0576/75,

PERL LEE STARR, OF WEED, CALIFORNIA.

LOCKING MEANS FOR CLUTCH-LETTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24, 191?.

Application filed August 16, 1916. Serial No. 115,171.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERL LEE STARR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Feed, in the county of Siskiyou and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locking Means for Clutch-Levers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in motor vehicles, and has particular reference to a locking device for clutch levers.

It is well known to those experienced in the operation of the Ford automobile, as at present constructed, that it is necessary to constantly maintain pressure on the clutch lever while the low speed gear is in use. This is an objectionable feature in that it becomes tiresome to the driver of the machine when traveling over diflicult roads and climbing long and steep hills. The present invention is designed to overcome the above objection by providing a novel mechanism for locking the clutch lever in its low speed gear position so that the driver may remove his foot from the lever and thus relieve himself of the strain of continuously pressing against the same.

Another object is the provision of a mechanism of this class, which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and apply to a machine already constructed, and effective in carrying out the purpose for which it is designed.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which for the purpose of illustrating the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the look ing mechanism, the same being shown applied to the clutch lever of an automobile;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the clutch lever; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The invention is particularly adapted for use on the Ford automobile, but it will of course be. understood that the same may be applied to any other machine wherein it is necessary to depress the clutch lever in order to employ the low speed gear.

There is illustrated in the accompanying drawing What is now believed to be the preferred form of the invention, wherein the adjustable parts of the locking mechanism are attached to the clutch lever 5 having the usual foot pedal 6. The mechanism comprises a base plate 7 shaped so that the same may be applied to the under side of the foot pedal 6 and said plate is secured to said pedal by means of a pair of lugs 8 struck from said plate and bent over the edges of the pedal, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The plate 7 is also secured in position by means of a hook member 9, the shank of which extends through a lateral projection or bent portion 10 of the upper end of the said plate and is secured thereto by means of the locking nuts 11, which are threaded upon said shank and which may be employed for the purpose of adjusting said hook member,-so that the same will tightly engage the lever 5 at a point where the same joins with the foot pedal, as shown in Fig. 2. It will thus be apparent from the foregoing description that the plate 7 may be readily applied and easily detached from the foot pedal, whenever desired.

The invention further embodies an adjustable locking member in the form of an elongated bar 12, having a portion of one edge thereof provided with teeth 13. This locking member 12 is mounted to slide through a slot 14 cut in an extension 15 formed upon one side of the plate 7, and said locking member is held in its normal or unlocking position ,by means of a coil spring 16, which is secured at one end to the extension 15, and at 'its other end to a pin or projection 17 formed upon said member or bar 12. The front end, or that end adjacent the plate 7, of the locking member 12 is provided with a transverse foot engaging element 18 whereby said looking member may be adjusted rearwardly at the same time that the clutch lever 5 is depressed whereby the latter may be locked in its depressed position.

A stationary locking member is associated with the adjustable member 12, and is also in the form of a bar, preferably secured to the body of the vehicle adjacent the steering post, as shown in Fig.1, and arranged in a vertical position, the lower end thereof being provided with an elongated slot 19 for receiving the rear end of the locking member 12. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that should it be desired to lock the lever 5 in its depressed position, the forward end of the locking member including the transverse element 18 is first engaged by the foot of the operator and forced rearwardly until the said foot comes in contact with the pedal 6, after which the lever 5 is depressed. Rear-ward movement of the tension, the same will have a tendency to retain the teeth in engagement with the bar 18 in addition to the pull that will be exerted upon said locking member 12 by the spring (not shown) usually employed in connection with the clutch lever 5. In order to release the locking member 12, the upper end of the transverse element 18 may be depressed with the foot and thus disengage the tooth from the locking member 18, whereupon the parts will be returned to normal position when the pressure of the foot is relieved from the clutch.

Should it be desired to simply depress the clutch lever 5 without looking the same in its depressed position, the operator needs only to place his foot upon the pedal 6 and depress the same in this manner without engaging and operating the locking element 12, which, under these conditions, will remain stationary and disengaged from the locking member 18.

What is claimed is 1. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever having a foot pedal, a base plate secured to the foot pedal, an adjustable locking member movable relatively to said plate and projecting at its forward end beyond the same, a stationary locking member associated with said adjustable locking member, and a foot engaging element carried by the forward end of said adjustable locking member whereby the same is actuated to cause the latter member to have locking engagement with the stationary locking memher.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever having a foot pedal, a base plate secured to the underside of the foot pedal, an adjustable locking member movable relatively to said plate and normally projecting at its forward end beyond the same, a stationary locking member associated with said adjustable locking member, a foot engaging element carried by the forward end ofsaid adjustable locking member whereby the same is actuated to cause the latter member to have locking engagement with the stationary locking member, and

means for releasably retaining said adjustable locking member in engagement with the stationary locking member.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a depressible clutch lever, a fixed locking member, and an adjustable locking member adjustable independently of and si multaneously with the adjustment of the clutch lever, the adjustable locking member when moved to locking position holding the clutch lever in a depressed position, and re silient means placed under tension when the adjustable locking member is moved to locked position and tending to releasably retain the said member in locked position, the said means serving to return the adjustable lockingmember to normal position when the said member is released.

4:. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a depressible clutch lever, a fixed locking member, and a locking member extending substantially at right angles to the fixed locking member and adjustable relative thereto, means for releasably holding the adjustable locking member in looking engage- 1 ment with the fixed locking member, the said means, when the adjustable locking member is released, serving to move said member out of engagement with the fixed locking member, the said adjustable locking member having an element adapted, when the locking member is adjusted to locking position, to exert pressure against the clutch lever to hold the same in an adjusted position.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever, a foot pedal for actuating the clutch lever, a fixed locking member, an adjustable locking member extending substantially at right angles to the fixed locking member, the adjustable locking member being adjusted to locking position relative to the fixed locking member when the clutch lever is operated, the adjustable locking member having a foot engaging element at its forward end normally projecting beyond the foot pedal and adapted, when the said adjustable locking member is moved to look ing position, to exert pressure on the clutch lever to lock the same in a depressed or adjusted position, and means for releasably holding the adjustable locking member in the locked position, the said means tending to return the said member when released to normal position.

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever, a base plate secured thereto, an adjustable locking member movable relatively to said plate, a stationary locking member associated with said adjustable locking member, a foot engaging element carried by one end of said adjustable looking member whereby the same is actuated to cause the latter member to have locking engagement with the stationary locking member, and a flexible connection between said base plate and said adjustable locking member for releasably retaining the latter member in engagement with said stationary locking member.

7. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever, a base plate secured thereto and having an extension provided With a slot therein, an adjustable looking member movable through said slot and having teeth formed upon one edge thereof, a stationary locking member associated With said adjustable locking member and having a slot therein for receiving one end of the latter member, and a foot engaging element carried by one end of said adjustable locking member whereby the same is actuated. to cause one of the teeth thereof to engage the stationary locking member at one end of the slot therein.

8. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever, a base plate secured thereto and having an extension provided With a slot therein, an adjustable locking member movable through said slot and having teeth formed upon one edge thereof, a stationary locking member associated With said adjustable locking member and having a slot therein for receiving one end of the latter member, a foot engaging element carried by one end of said adjustable locking member whereby the same is actuated to cause one of the teeth thereof to engage the stationary locking member at one end of the slot therein, and means for releasably retaining said teeth of the adjustable locking member in engagement with the stationary locking member.

9. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever, a base plate associated there- With, a hook member adjustable relative to said base plate and engaging the clutch lever for locking said base plate thereto, and adjustable foot operated means carried by said base plate for locking the clutch lever in an adjusted position.

10. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever, a base plate secured thereto and having a slotted extension at one side thereof, a stationary locking member, and an adjustable locking member mounted to slide in the slot of said extension and coacting at its rear end With the stationary locking member, the adjustable locking member havin a foot engaging element at its forward enc for engaging the said base plate to hold the clutch lever in depressed position.

11. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a clutch lever having a foot pedal for actuating the same to depress the clutch lever, a base plate secured to the underside of the foot pedal and having a slotted extension at one side, a stationary locking member, an adj ustable locking member mounted to slide in the slot of said extension, and coacting at its rear portion With the stationary locking member, the said adjustable locking member having a foot engaging element at its forward end adapted to engage the said base plate, When the adjustable locking member is in locked position, to hold the clutch lever in depressed position, and a spring connecting the said base plate With the said adjustable locking member, for holding the latter in its normal or unlocked position.

PERL LEE STARR. Witnesses:

I. WHITE, J. A. E. R. VVALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

